When God builds the early church He uses the Apostle Paul as His primary missionary to the Gentiles.  While some Jewish people embrace Jesus as the Messiah, many cling to their old ways and religion.  Paul has a heart for his people and speaks a lot about their hopeful embracing of Jesus.  Let’s look at what he says about this in Romans 11 together today.  

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. 2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

It is always amazing to me to watch the plans of God unfold.  He rarely does things in a way that we might plan or expect on our own.  Even as He builds the early church, God uses unexpected people in unexpected ways.  He uses Paul, perhaps the most Jewish person He could find, who persecuted the church, jailing and killing Christians, to reach the Gentiles of the world with His message.  He uses a group of Jewish fishermen, sinners, and tax collectors to reach the Jewish people with His message.  He uses impulsive Peter, the biggest wild card out there, to be the primary leader of the early church.  The beauty of God’s message of love and grace is that it is on full display even in the delivery of His message.  He uses a rag tag group to bring His message to the world.  There is grace even in the delivery system!  God did not forget His people at all, He simply embraced the Gentiles as well.  He used their inclusion to make the church better and stronger.  Paul recognizes this and appreciates his own role in the process.  The thing we all need to know is that God wants to use each of us in the unfolding of His plan as well.  He continues to build His church and he wants each of us to be a part of His delivery system.  He wants us to carry on His message of love and grace to the world.  I pray that we would all have the privilege to be a part of God’s unexpected plans.  

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave